March 04, 2009

New Paid Parental Leave Policy Part of Growing Family-Friendly Benefits

Case Western Reserve University staff employees are invited to attend an informational session this week to learn more about a new policy that is part of a growing package of family-friendly benefits.

"Case Western Reserve University recognizes the need to support employees as they balance career and family life," Carolyn Gregory, vice president of human resources, wrote in an e-mail to staff when the Paid Parental Leave policy was announced last November. The new policy was approved by President Barbara R. Snyder with an effective date of Nov. 1, 2008.

The policy offers Family Medical Leave Act eligible staff employees paid time off after the birth or adoption of a child. That time is not charged against employees' sick and/or vacation balances. FMLA requires Case Western Reserve to provide up to 12 work weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. The university's new policy goes a step beyond, allowing for up to a maximum of six weeks of paid parental leave for birth mothers and primary caregivers, and up to three weeks of paid parental leave for other parents, including domestic partners who are non-primary care givers. Paid parental leave runs concurrently with FMLA leave, and staff employees receive their full salaries.

The policy allows for parents to take the time off within 12 months of the date of birth or placement of a child.

Staff employees can learn more about the new policy at a staff development session from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, March 5, at the Biomedical Research Building, Frohring Auditorium.

"It's a great benefit we've been advocating for many years," said Kathryn Howard, a member of the Staff Advisory Council's fringe benefits committee. The council passed a resolution for an expanded parental leave policy in 2002, and Howard said the university's new policy provides even more coverage. "I'm happy they chose to do it, and it's a positive step in the progressive benefits direction. It's great news for staff members at the university."

Case Western Reserve University is committed to the free exchange of ideas, reasoned debate and intellectual dialogue. Speakers and scholars with a diversity of opinions and perspectives are invited to the campus to provide the community with important points of view, some of which may be deemed controversial. The views and opinions of those invited to speak on the campus do not necessarily reflect the views of the university administration or any other segment of the university community.